Reversible propeller.



No. s591362.

J. S'. BENSON.

'REVERSIBLE PROPELLER. PPLIOATION FILED APB. 1.1907.

PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

NQ l

nventor.

w "b9 l @WMM A\ M ttomegs I'UNITED siaJrEsv PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH soo'r'r'BENsoN, OF FRUITLAND, IOWA.

REVERSIBLE imoPELLER.l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

y Application filed April 1, 1907. serai No. 365,819.

`peller shaft, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of devices of this characterand f' increase the efficiency while at the same time reducing In said drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the device applied, with the boat structure in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is an end view of the propeller shaft and Apropellers, in section on the line 2-2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the propeller in section on the line 33, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail in section on the line 44, Fig. 2.

The device herein described is designed more par- I ticularly .for use upon the smaller sizes of launches equipped with gasolenc or naphtha and sim/ilar motors which are not easily reversible and not readily Lstopped and started but may be applied to other forms of mc tors if required and I do not therefore wish to be limited in its use to any particular class or form of motor.

In the drawings 10 designates a propeller shaft ofthe usual construction supported in a stufnng box or bearing l1 inthe stern post l2 of a boat 13. Upon the outer end of the shaft l0 is secured a. housing or hub member 14 having a plurality of bearings 15-16 extending transversely therethrough and spaced apart longitudinally. Each bearing is intersected by intermediate cavities 17-18 extending laterally from the bearings Within'thehousing.

Propeller fiukes or blades 19-20 are provided with studs 21-22 'respectively for rotatively engaging the bearings 15-16 in the housing and the studs are prvided with arms 23-'24 extending laterally through the recesses l7-18 and also projecting through the sides of the housing. The bearings are oppositely disposed and the studs 2].-22 are inserted from opposite sides of the housing, so that the fiukes likewise extend in opposite directions.

Ythe pressure of the water.

For the purpose of illustration two dukes and their studs and arms only are shown which is the number generally employcd upon smaller craft, but it will be understood that any desired number may be employed.

Movable longitudinally upon the-outer surface of the housing 14 is a sleeve 25 having opposite apertures 26, through which the linkes extend and this sleeve is provided with apertures 27 and 28 at opposite points to receive the ends of arms 23 and 24. Mounted to slide upon the shaft l0 is a sleeve 29 connected to the sleeve 25 and engaged by a shipper rod 30 which passes through a stuffing box 31 and is operated by a lever 32 within-the boat 13. I

It is obvious that by adjusting the sleeve longitudinally `of the shaft'the sleeve 25 acting 'on the arms 23-24 will correspondingly rotate the studs 21-22and adjust the ukes 19-20 to any desired angle to the plane of ,their'rotation and thus increase or decrease' the pitch to any required extent or entirely reverse the ilukes without changing the direction of motion of the shaft or reversing the engine or motor.

The outer 'faces of the housing 14 adjacent tofthe necks of the flukes is formed with oppositely inclined stop shoulders 33 and the butt ends of the flukes next their studs are formed with stop portions 3 4. extending in oppdsite directions for alternately engaging the stop shoulders when the 'lukes are adjusted to the limit of their movements in opposite directions. These shoulders also relieve the arms 23-24 from strains caused by Th is is an important feature ofthe invention and materially increases the strergth, durability, and efciency ofthe device, and effectually guards the operating mechanism from Athe severe strains to which they would otherwise be subjected'. The coacting shoulders and stop portions also serve .an

important purpose in supporting the flukes in event of their striking obstructions when in operation and preventing breakage of the parts by causing the resistance to be borne by the relatively heavy housingvmember instead of by the' relatively weaker and lighter operating means. y

What is claimed is: A

1. In a propeller the combination with a shaft;of a housing at one end thereof having a plurality of bearings extending transversely therethrough, said bearings being spaced apart. said housing having lateral recesses, propeller linkes having studs mounted to work within the bearings, said dukes extending in different directions, arms extending laterally from the studs and through the recesses in the housing, a sleeve slidahly mounted upon the housing and having openings for receiving the arms. and means for actuating the sleeve to lock the arms and studs. 2. In a propeller the combination with as'haft; of housing' at one end of the shaft and having a pluralty of spuced hearings extending therethrough; each bearing communicating with a lateral recesswithin the housing, a plurality of propeller fiuxes. means extending therefrom and reversely mounted within the bearings, projecting devices vextending laterally from said means und into the 'recessesstop shoulders adjacent Ithe recesses and upon the housing,A means movable longitudiitulllyy upon the -housing and engaging the laterally projecting devices and disposed when shifted to change the angles of the fiukes, said tiukes being limited in their movement by the 10 shouldeis, and means for actuating said movable means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, 1

'have hereto ailxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH SCOTT BENSON.

Witnesses: v

WILLIAM Mssen, A. E. MAINE. 

